Aerial navigation.



Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

4 T o w a l A i /w.\\ \\l/, A D@ U J. S. LETTS.

AERIAL NAVIGATION. APPLIOATION FILED DBo.2s,19os.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

9.a. F f3@ f vw C J. S. LETTS. AERIAL NAVIGATION APPLIOATION FILED DBo.2s,19oB.

i E E J. s. LETTS. AERIAL NAVIGATION.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO. 28,1908.

Patented 0015.191909 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

.JEREMIAH S.' LETTS, 0F DICKINSON, NORTH DAKTA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. GUY CLARK, 0F DICKINSON, NORTH DAKOTA.

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

Application filed.V December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,668.

of North Dakota, have invented certain new.

and useful Improvements in Aerial Navigatlon, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of my invention is to provide novel means for propelling an air ship of the. kind in which a cab for the director of the ship and for supporting the motive power and the propelling mechanism is'suspended from a balloon.

According to my invention I employ liqu1d air in connection with compressed air to act upon a screw-propeller to cause the latter to revolve at a high speed and to thus propel the ship, the latter being raised to the desired elevatlon and sustained at such elevation bya dirigible balloon which latter is provided with means for forcing air into it 'upwardly and, for causing air to lpass through it longitudinally in such manner as to maintain the barlloonlin such elevated position and also aid in propelling it. Means is provided whereby the ship may be maintained in an upright position or tilted and also whereby it may be guided. As an additional means for raising the ship and holding it in an elevated position, I may employ a kite of improved construction.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a view mainly in side elevation with some parts broken away of an air ship embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the same with some of the lower parts omitted.' Fig. 3 shows a vertical section 011 the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the heater employed for eX-' panding the compressed and liquid air. Fig. 5 is an end view of the propeller and the pipe for supplying it with the expanding air. Fig. 6 is' a detail View of. one of the valves used between the compressing pumps and the compressed air cylinders. Fig. 7 is a view of one end of the propeller. Fig. 8 shows a front elevation of a kite which may be used in raising and sustaining theship. Fig. 9 shows how the kite, may be applied to the ship. Fig. 10 shows a side elevation of the dirigible balloon preferably employed. Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal section thereof. The cab has a suitable shell or casing A Within which are arranged two compressed air cylinders B int-o which air is forced by two air pumps C operated from the shaft of a screw-propeller D mounted on top of the cab casing A. Air is admitted to the pump cylinders on the up stroke of the plstons through the valves c, the valves c between the pumps and the compressed air cylinders :being then closed. On the down stroke the valves c close,'while the valves c open.

Compressed `air is discharged from the cylinders B `into a cylinder E which is connected by a pipe f with a cylinder F in the lower part of the cab. The cylinder E is surrounded by a casing G' which is connected by means of a valved pipe H with a reservoir I for liquid air. As is Well understood, the compressing of air generates heat, and when the compression is very great, the air is raised to a very high temperature. The expansion of liquid air creates intense cold. According to my invention the cold produced by theexpansion of liquid air 1s largely counterbalanced by the heat produced by the compressing of air, so that the compressed air enters the cylinder F from the cylinder E and the expanding liquid air enters said cylinder through a pipe F with their temperatures greatly modilied. The great force of the expanding liquid air is made capable of use,while the freezing effects often incident to the use'of liquid air are avoided. The pipe H is provided with a regulating valve h, while the pipe f has a simiIar valve f.

From the tank 'F the air is conveyed by a pipe j having a valve j to a heater J, which may be constructed and operated in the manner shown and described in my application for Patent No. 447 ,821, filed -August 10, 1908. Fig. 4 shows this heater and, as illustrated, it comprises a spherical chamber Z surrounded by a spherical casing l with a space l2 between them to which the com'- l fio It passes fromthe heater througha pipe 'N' to a screw-propeller D mounted 1n a sui-table casing D attached to theL upper part of the casing A. The air under enormous. pressure passes through'the propeller causing 1t to revolve at-high speed and with great force and to thus propel the ship.

The 4cab and its propeller are suspended from an inflatable balloon P which may be inflated or deflated at p in any suitable way. The balloon P is provided with a centrally arranged cylinder Q closed at the top g, open at the bottom and closed at the sides except atv those parts which receive the plpes R and S. The pipe R is preferably of uniform diameter and it extends from the rear end of the balloon into the cylinder Q, while the pipe S, which extends from the front end of the balloon through the cylinder Q and into the pipe R, tapers from its front end rearwardly, there beinga space s between the inner .end of the pipe S and the walls of the. pipe R. The front or outerend of the plpe S is' preferably provided with a flaring or bell-mouthed air receiver S into which the air rushes as the balloon moves forward and which serves to concentrate a large body of air and direct it into the pipe S through which it passes to the pipe R and draws air up into the cylinder Q and causes it to pass from said cylinder through the space s and out through the ipe R the outer or rear end of which is pre erably provided as shown with a dirigible bell-mouthed air deliverer R. This may be made as most clearly shown in Figs. 10 .and 11. As illustrated the bell-mouthed or flaring air deliverer R is formed on its inner end with an enlarged semi-spherical part r which is inclosed in a correspondingly shaped casing 7" in which it fits snugly so as to retain its position under ordinary condition, but wherein it is capable of adjustment in any desired direction, z'. e., the air deliverer has a universal or ball and socket connection with the rear end of the tube R and .it may be turned in any desired way by means of wires or cords l, 2, 3, 4

which extend to the cab within easy reach of the navigator or where they may be connected with any suitable operating mechanism.

By means ofthe wire 1, the outer end ofl the deliverer R may be raised so as to direct the outgoing air upward, thus causing the stern of the balloon to be depressed and the bow to be correspondingly elevated and thus the balloon will be directed upward. In like mannerby means of the wire i the outer end of the deliverer may be turned'downwardly, the stern of the balloon raised and the bow depressed and by vmeans of the wires 2 and 3 proper lateral movements maybe given to the deliverer to direct 'the movemet of the balloon either to the right or to the left.- Thus the balloon is under the persenseo fect control of the navigator while the .cab is directed in the manner hereinafter described.

4A pipe T, provided with a valve t, extends from the cylinder F to the interior of the cylinder Q, and I may also use a pipe T regulated by a valve t extending from the pipe N to the cylinder Q in connection with the pipe T or supplemental thereto. Air under great pressure may thus be made to enter the cylinder Q, strike against the top thereof, react, and thus exert a lifting force on the balloon. The air also rushes into the space s and out rearward through the pipe S and exerts a propelling force to move the balloon forward. The passage of air to the cylinder Q may be regulated by the valves t and t to cause the balloon to move forward at the same speed as that of the ship, or it may he made, in some cases, to propel the entire ship.

In starting the ship,`the cylinders-B having been first filled with compressed air and the reservoir I containing liquld air,the valves lz, and f may be opened so that the expanding air will pass to the cylinder F. At first the valve y" may be closed while the valve t is opened. The buoyancy of the rballoon and the air rebounding from the top of the cylinder Q will cause the ship to rise. The valve j may then be openedand the propeller set in motion. This puts the pumps into operation and more compressedv air is supplied to the cylinders B. In this way the ship may be raised and propelled. Of course theballoon may be made of such size as to raise the ship Without the use of com` pressed air in the cylinder Q.

In order to balance and guide the shi a, I may attach to the bottom thereof the devlces for this purpose illustrated in Fig. 1 where a spherical chamber U is shown with a casing U to which arel attached feet or standards U2 which may be'used to support the when on the ground. U3 indicates a Weight or plummet having a rod u to which is attached a cord, rope or cable, u connected to. a winding drum or windlass fw2 by means of which the plummet or weight may be raised and lowered. By means of suitable Winding drums w3 and cords, ropes or cables a4, the position of the plummet relatively to the central vertical axis or center of gravity of the ship may be changed so as to tilt the ship in the desired dircctlon to aid it when descending or ascending when in motion.

IV indicates a rudder controlled by a drum w and suitable cords, ropes or cables, w. I have indicated diagrammatically only 'the parts above referred to. It is obvious that- 1n practice the several drums will be placed vvlflithin convenient reach of a director of the s 1p.

In order to assist in elevating the ship and 'the bottom. while the tubes .'v are closed at the ship and controlled in any suitable Way. b

raise the temperature of the liquidair and lthe expanding liquid air to the propeller,

Vraise the temperature of the liquid air and sustaining it, I may employ a kite X of improved construction, such as illustrated in igs. 8 and 9. The kite proper, as shown, is composed of a main tube or cylinder a' having arms or branch tubes and a number of similar diagonally arranged tubes m, connected at opposite ends .with -the tubes w, The tube is closed at the top and open at their outer ends.' Y indicates a. vessel for air under ,high compression which is connected with the tuberi; by a pipe 1/ provided with a valve y. X indicates the'tail of the kite. Z indicates the string or rope leading 'trom the kite.

In the use of these devices the string may1 be attached to an automobile O and the valve y, opened. The air rushing from the vessel Y passes into the tube system and out through the bottom of the tube m causing the kite to ascend after the manner ot a skyrocket, and if the automobile be driven at a suitable speed, the kite will mount high into the air. The automobile may then be driven to the air ship and the string attached to a windlass Z mounted on any desired part of 'l'he kite helps in elevating the ship and in holding it in an elevated position While the ship may be propelled in the manner before described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an air ship,`the combination of a propeller, a compressed air reservoir, :leans for compressing the air in the reservoir, a reservoir for liquid air, means for causing the. heat developed by the compressed air to vice. versa, and means for leading the compressed air and `the expanding liquid airto the propeller.

2. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller, a compressed air reservoir, a reservoir for liquid air, means for causing heat developed Aby the compressed air to raise the temperature of the liquid air and vice versa, means for leading the ,compressed air and and air compression pumps driven by the propeller.` i

3. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller, a compressed air reservoir, lneans -for compressing the air in the reservoir, a. reservoir for liquid airfmeansfor causing the heat developed bythe compressed air to vice versa, a tank into which the expanding compressed air and liquid air are delivered, and means for conveying air therefrom to the propeller.

4. In an air ship, the combination of a propeller, a compressed air reservoir, means for compressing the air in the reservoir, a reservoir for liquid air, -avessel into which compressed air passes from the compressed air reservoir, a casing surrounding this vessel to which liquid air is admitted, a heater through which the compressed air and the vapor-ized liquid air passes, and means connecting this heater with the propeller.

ln an air ship, the combiimtion ot a propeller, a compressed air reservoir, a reservoir for liquid air, .a pump driven by the propeller and connected with the compressed air cylinder, a vessel into which airpasses from the compressed air cylinder. a

"asing surrounding this vessel to which liquid air is admitted, a heater through which the compressed air and vaporized liquid air passes and a connection between this heater and the propeller.

(3. In au air ship, the combination of a. balloon, a chamber there-in closed at the top and open at the bottom, and means for foreing air under pressure into said chan'iber to aid in raising the balloon.

7. In an air ship, the coml'iination of a propeller, a reservoir for lliquid air, a heater, means for conveyii'ig the expanding liquid aiuto the heater and a connection between the heater-and the propeller.

8. In an 'air ship, the combination of a cab, a balloon, a reservoir for liquid air, a

`means for conveying expanding liquid air to said chamber in the balloon, Afor the purpose specified.

l0. In an air ship, the combination of a cab, a balloon connected therewith having a chamber closed at the top and open at the bottom, a pipe extending from said chamber to the :rear end of the balloon andthrough Which air passes from said chamber out at the rear end of the balloon, another pipe extending from the front end of the balloon throu h the first-mentioned chamber and into t e lirst-mentioned pi e and through which air passes from the ront of the balloon into the pipe leading to the rear end of the balloon, a compressed air reservoirl Within the cab, a reservoir for liquid air also in the cab, a. vessel in which tlie expanding compressed air and the expanding liquid air are received, a heater communicating with this vessel, and a communication between the heater and the before'mentioned vessel in the balloon.

11. In an airship, the combination of a balloon, a chamber closed at -the top and open at the bottom located in the middle portion of the balloon, a pipe extending from said chamber tothe rear endof the balloon and through which air passes from said chamber out at the rear end of the balloon, a bell-mouthed air-deliverer at the rear end of said pipe, and a ball-and-socket joint between said air-deliverer and said pipe.

"balloon, a chamber closed at the top -open at the bottom located in the middle 12. In an airship, the combination .of a and portion of the. balloon, a pi e extending rom the front end of the bal oon through said chamber, another pipe into which said first pipe extends and which communicates with said centrally-located chamber and extends to the rear end ofthe balloon, a bell -met, and means in the cab connected with they 'plummet for swinging it either forward or backward, about an axis extending horizontally through the upper end of the rod.

tube, means for balancing the kite, a vessel for compressed air and a communication beve'en said vessel and the main tube of the 15. The combination with an air ship, of a kite comprising a main central tube closed at the top and open at the bottom, lateral arms communicatin with said central tube, diagonally arran ed tubes extendin from the main tube to t e arms, means for balancing the kite, a vessel for containing air under pressure, a connection between said vessel and the tubular structure of the pipe, and means for connecting the kite with the air shi 11131 testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. y

JEREMIAH S. LETTS.

Witnesses:

W. F. BURNE'rr, It. F. WARREN 

